Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 10-21-21 E-edition

Thursday, October 21, 2021 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
Serving the Readers of the Reedley Exponent, Dimuba Sentinel and Sanger Herald.
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
In my OPINION State hammered by Biden,
Newsom progressivism
Politically and economically, resi-
dents of California are being ham-
mered by two sources of wild-eyed
progressivism. Ten months of Joe
Biden have created a nightmare
scenario locally, nationally and in-
ternationally. I'm truly unsure that
this country can survive three more
years with the poor decision making
displayed by this administration. His
built-in replacement, Kamala Harris, is so ill-equipped and awful that she doesn't even deserve discussion.
Biden brought a record to the White House of being a mediocre senator from the small state of Delaware, and whose primary interest at best always seemed to deal with enriching his personal and extended families. With his widely-recognized cognitive difficulties, it cer- tainly appears that someone else is wielding the puppet strings. Certainly, no one can deny that his exposure to a doting press corps is tightly controlled. It appears that every time the president opens his mouth, the event has been carefully scripted by others and delivered via teleprompter. My personal opinion is that unelected bu- reaucrats are running our government. Everyone has, from time to time, heard accusations of a “shadow gov- ernment.” This time, we believe it is true.
Think about how often the president has said “they” don't want him to answer that or how often he has re- ferred to directions that have been dictated by some unknown individual or clandestine group of people.
During the last month I wondered openly, in one of these columns, whether Gavin Newsom had been chas- tened by the recall or whether he would see it as a huge victory. A mandate, if you will. When a man has an ego that large, there can be very little doubt of their actions. One has only to look at the garbage legislation which he signed at the close of this legislative session.
Both of the men under discussion today share a cou- ple of traits that are extremely damning for any public official. Joe Biden and Gavin Newsom are possessed of out-of-control egos while at the same time being two truly incompetent men for the positions they hold. A large ego is possibly a prerequisite for government bu- reaucrats, but only when it's coupled with incompetence does it prove to be dangerous.
Perversely enough, somewhere along the line, politi- cians have decided the best way to maintain their cen- ters of power is to divide a populace that has become more and more tribal. Civil discussion has disappeared from Americans, thanks in no small part because of the contribution made by social media. Addiction to this type of communication has, no doubt, ties to deeper psycho- logical conditions. Let's face it, all those “friends” whom you've never met care very little about your thoughts, what you've been doing or a video of your cat!
Who would ever thought that a virus from Asia would become a disaster being leveraged to create control over American citizens? In a country already beset with eco- nomic woes and spiraling inflation, “the suits” are issu- ing mandates that conflict with individual rights, caus- ing an untold number of hard-working Americans to lose their jobs. We admire the convictions of those folks who are saying “enough is enough.” They're drawing the line against having basic human rights being usurped by wrong-headed governors, weak-kneed corporate of- ficials, Anthony Fauci and Joe Biden.
When the Center for Disease Control and Fauci change their minds and positions almost daily, one has to ask “what- ever happened to the science we hear so much about?”
W're not questioning the value of the vaccine, it's just we believe that it is an absolute right of the indi- vidual to make the decision. One must remember the death of Colin Powell, who died recently, and was fully vaccinated. We've since learrned that there were other health issues but it is an indicator that the vaccine is not the end-all, be-all solution which seems to be the default position of the government..
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Finally, an opportunity to enjoy the Valley's all-too-brief fall season
Fred Hall — Publisher
Jon Earnest — Editor
Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
Fred Hall
I don't want to jinx it, but it's nearly safe to say that a miserable hot and smoky sum- mer and early autumn — exac- erbated by that pesky corona- virus — at long last is behind us.
The last six months started with some promise, as CO- VID-19 cases had declined to low enough levels to general- ly "reopen" California to busi- ness. About the only bad news to deal with was the expected continued drought. That didn't disappoint, as the only mois- ture in the sky was in the form of occasional humidity.
Unfortunately, the arrival of the Delta variant meant that COVID cases again spiked during the summer months, resulting in an increase in the ratio of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. But what proved to be as discouraging was the outbreak of wildfires in the state, with the most notable blazes affecting the Central Valley being the Caldor Fire (Lake Tahoe area) and the KNP Complex Fire (Sequoia and Kings Canyon national
parks region). On more than one occasion, these huge fire events brought plumes of hazy smoke settling into the Valley and raising air quality levels to unhealthy and very unhealthy levels (even hazardous once or twice).
When it came to our bat- tered lungs, everything seemed to come to a head when a high wind advisory briefly brought heavy dust and hazardous air quality into the Valley. But the discomfort was brief, and a short rain system that came through the area redirected smoke and cleaned the skies. Entering this week, we're still enjoying some clean air and may receive more rain later this week.
In the meantime, residents and visitors to the annual Reedley Fiesta were able to enjoy perfect weather condi- tions for the two-day event, and ideal temperatures con- tinued this last weekend for Dinuba's Dog Days. And start- ing this week and next, the fall prep sports season is kicking into playoff mode in volley-
ball, girls ten- nis and eventu- ally water polo.
QUOTE
“Men live in a fantasy world. I know this because I am one, and I actually receive my mail there.”
— Scott Adams (1957 - )
There's
plenty to be
excited about
for fans of the
area's high
schools. Reed-
ley High's football teams on track to potentially play for a second consecutive league championship, while Sanger High's perennially strong pro- gram still holds its potential league supremacy hopes in its own hands. Dinuba, Immanuel and Orosi all have been flex- ing their offensive muscles and have a chance to do post- season damage if matchups fall into place.
There also are a number of other falls sports teams and individual athletes who are ready to show off their skills.
Before the cold weather and fog set in, we all have a few weeks to enjoy some mild weather and fresh air. Now's the time to enjoy it.
Jon Earnest is news-sports editor for The Times.
Jon Earnest
'Perks' for open health care enrollment
By Rebecca Madsen
Guest columnist
When it comes to health benefits, many people may often think about the finan- cial protection provided in the event of a serious medical is- sue, illness, or accident. While that is a valuable aspect of hav- ing major medical coverage, some health plans may also offer a slew of other resources that can contribute to well-be- ing and financial fitness.
That’s why it is important for people to research their health plan options during this fall’s open enrollment season, the time when individuals can select or switch their health benefits for 2022. While 82 percent of people responding to a recent UnitedHealthcare survey said they are prepared for open enrollment, more than one-quarter (28 percent) spend less than one hour researching their health benefit options.
Depending on the plans available, people may be able to access “health plan perks” that are potentially overlooked during the enrollment process. Here are several benefits, pro- grams, or discounts to look for when considering health plans for next year:
Digital fitness apps. The CO- VID-19 pandemic has prompt- ed some people to avoid public gyms due to potential expo-
sure risks to the coronavirus, contributing to a surge in the popularity of at-home fitness routines. In fact, 30 percent of Americans surveyed said they had used a digital fitness app as part of their fitness regimen since COVID-19 emerged. To help more people access live and on-demand workouts virtu- ally, some health plans now in- clude subsidized subscriptions to digital fitness apps, in some cases giving year-long access at no additional cost.
Wearable devices. Many U.S. employers offer well-be- ing programs, some of which include financial incentives for healthy activities such as completing walking goals, go- ing to the gym, or meeting cer- tain health benchmarks (e.g., cholesterol levels, body mass index or non-nicotine use). To help encourage participation, some health plans provide members with a wearable de- vice – such as a smartwatch or an activity tracker – at no additional cost. By using the device and meeting specific daily activity goals, such as for walking, biking, swimming or strength training, people may earn over $1,000 per year in financial incentives to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Physical therapy and chiro- practic care. About 80 percent of people experience low back
issues at least once, with pain ranging from a minor nuisance to a major disability. As a first course of treatment, the Amer- ican College of Physicians recommends exercise-based therapies followed by nonsur- gical options such as physical therapy and chiropractic care. With that in mind, some health plans waive usual deductibles or copays for some of these nonsurgical options for new onset low back pain, to help improve access to this type of care while potentially avoiding often unnecessary (and expen- sive) treatments such as imag- ing or surgery.
Health care open enroll- ment usually occurs during a two-week period during the fall; for people enrolled in Medicare, enrollment runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7; and for most individual state exchang- es, open enrollment is from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15.
By looking for and using these potentially overlooked benefits and resources, people can help maximize the value of their health plan, support well-being and save money. To determine access to these programs, people can check with their company’s HR de- partment or directly with their health plan.
Rebecca Madsen is chief consumer officer for United- Healthcare